it's good to have you with us. more than 3 million muslims from around the world traveled to mecca this week for the hajj, the annual pilgrimage all able muslims are called upon to perform once in their lifetime. pilgrims take part in a series of rituals that recall events from the lives of abraham and the prophet muhammad. on friday, muslims began observing the three days of eid-al-adha or the festival of sacrifice. some sacrifice animals such as sheep or cows to recall abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to god. >>> in a major speech on poverty, vice-presidential candidate paul ryan this week praised religious charities, while blasting federal anti-poverty programs, he charged they create what he called a "debilitating culture of dependency." sister simone campbell, leader of the nuns on the bus tour, criticized ryan, a fellow catholic, for wanting to slash federal funding for low-income families. she argued that contradicted church teachings. >>> meanwhile, in an interview with catholic news